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Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE

WHAT IS BIOMIMICRY? Definition, examples, difference from other bio-inspired approaches CORE CONCEPTS Functions and strategies, Earth’s operating system, and nature’s unifying patterns PRACTICE Introduction to the biomimicry design spiral


Sustainable innovation inspired by nature.

BIOMIMICRY: The practice of adapting nature’s best ideas to the invention of healthier, more sustainable technologies for people.


Trains that move faster and more quietly on less energy Marco Carrubba, CC-BY-NC-ND via Flickr Hans Hillewaert CC-BY-SA via Wikimedia


Antimicrobial surfaces that don’t breed superbugs Vic DeLeon CC-BY-NC-ND

Carbon-negative building materials

NOAA public domain CC-BY Mark Dumont via Wikimedia


Chemical-free, on-site wastewater treatment

CC-BY-NC-ND Matt McDermott via Flickr

Industry that works like an ecosystem CC-BY-SA RosenfeldMedia via Wikimedia

Biomimicry works in multiple ways.

Form Shape, surface,

texture (Macro or micro)

Process operations or behaviors

System many forms and processes

interacting


BIO-INSPIRED DESIGN

BIOMIMICRY

Bio-Inspired Design:!Biomimicry Bio-engineering Bionics Biomimetics Biomorphic design Biophilia and so on….

Biomimicry is one of many “bio” approaches that "use nature as a resource for solutions.


Bio-inspired design is not necessarily biomimicry.

Cheetah robot, via Boston Dynamics for DARPA Green wall, CC-BY-SA Spaceo via Wikimedia Saarinen Tulip chair, via Design Within Reach

BIOMORPHIC BIOPHILIC BIOMECHANIC


How can we “fit in” on Earth as elegantly as the living systems around us?

CC-BY-NC Mark S. Elliot via Flickr


“The core idea is that nature, imaginative by necessity, has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with. Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. They have found what works, what is appropriate, and most important, what lasts here on Earth… The conscious emulation of life’s genius is a survival strategy for the human race, a path to a sustainable future. The more our world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not ours alone.”

- Janine Benyus


CORE CONCEPTS!

Image: NASA, public domain

Earth’s planetary context


Dr. Adam Nieman

Public domain Jalal Hameed Bhatti CC-BY-ND Cheryl CC-BY


Public domain Public domain

Public domain CC-BY Flicker user “Jar”


Nature exhibits overarching patterns


•  Nature runs on sunlight. •  Nature uses only the energy it needs. •  Nature fits form to function. •  Nature recycles everything. •  Nature rewards cooperation. •  Nature banks on diversity. •  Nature demands local expertise. •  Nature curbs excesses from within. •  Nature taps the power of limits. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature "(Benyus, 1997, pg 8)

JANINE’S LIST


MANY OTHER LISTS


10 of Nature’s Unifying Patterns 1.  Nature uses only the energy it

needs and relies on freely available energy.

2.  Nature recycles all materials 3.  Nature is resilient to

disturbances. 4.  Nature optimizes rather than

maximizes. 5.  Nature rewards cooperation. 6.  Nature runs on information."

7.  Nature uses chemistry and materials that are safe for living beings.

8.  Nature builds using abundant resources, incorporating rare resources only sparingly.

9.  Nature is locally attuned and responsive.

10.  Nature uses shape to determine functionality.


LEARN MORE

Toolbox.Biomimicry.org CORE CONCEPTS

> NATURE’S UNIFYING PATTERNS


Function links biology and design CC-BY-NC Mrilylle Soveran via Flickr CC-BY-NC-ND Rene Beignet via Flickr


FUNCTION : the purpose or outcome of something.

The reason behind particular characteristics,

mechanisms, or processes.


Public domain CC-BY-NC-ND Sven-Kåre Evenseth via Flickr

CC-BY-NC Ethan Staats

Functions:Capture water Prevent loss of water Stay warm Communicate Sense the environment Protect from impact

Photo: edgeplot CC-NC-SA Photo: Jill Clardy CC-‐BY-‐NC-‐SA via Flickr


STRATEGY: characteristics, mechanisms or processes

that exist to meet a function


EXAMPLE: Spring Peeper

CC-‐BY-‐NC


Function: "Protect from freezing"(ice crystals) Strategy: Produce a glucose (sugar) solution to reduce formation of ice crystals.

EXAMPLE: Spring Peeper

CC-‐BY-‐NC


EXAMPLE: Platelets

Photo: ZEISS Microscopy CC-‐BY-‐NC-‐ND


EXAMPLE: Platelets

Function: "Prevent loss of a liquid (blood). Strategy: Lens-shaped structures that flow into and plug the wound.

Photo: ZEISS Microscopy CC-‐BY-‐NC-‐ND


IMPORTANCE OF FUNCTION

Understanding function is key to looking for nature’s models. Focusing first on function opens up possibilities.

FUNCTION STRATEGY

NATURE

Something an organism or living system must do in order to

survive/persist.

Something that meets the functional needs of an organism or living system.

DESIGN What you want your design to do.

A designed element that meets a function.

Function (and strategies) are what biology and design have in common.

Biomimicry.org| AskNature.org BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE

Applying the concepts of function/strategy:

Think about what you want your design to do, not what you want your design to be.

Look for organisms and systems that need to meet the same functions you want your design to meet.


METHODS OF PRACTICE!


Biomimicry Design Spiral

•  Identify function •  Define context •  Biologize the challenge •  Discover biological

models •  Abstract strategies •  Emulate strategies •  Evaluate fitness •  Iterate again…


IDENTIFY FUNCTION


IDENTIFY FUNCTION

FUNCTION STRATEGY

NATURE

Something an organism or living system must do in order to

survive/persist.

Something that meets the functional needs of an organism or living system.

DESIGN What you want your design to do.

A designed element that meets a function.

Function (and strategies) are what biology and design have in common.

Keep greens from wilting manage temperature | provide humidity

CC-BY-NC “TQT” via Flickr


DEFINE CONTEXT

Colorado River aqueduct, ,California (Reuters)

Planetary Context

Together, function and context articulate !the challenge:!

what the design must do; and

under what conditions/constraints


BIOLOGIZE the challenge


“Biologize” to take a human challenge and rephrase it"

so that an answer may be found in biology.

“How does nature….?”


Manage temperature In cold, wet environments?

Move silently through air?

Assemble hard, durable structures at low temperature?

Although these first three steps seem simple it’s worth spending a lot of

time here.


DISCOVER biological

models


Biological model:an inspiring organism or living system which exhibits

a strategy that is relevant to your challenge (function + context)

strategy: a characteristic, mechanism, or process that performs a function.


Ian Boyd CC-BY-ND via Flickr

AskNature.org


ABSTRACT strategies


Abstract:!Capture the essence of the biological strategy

such that it can be applied to a design

•  focus on how the strategy does what it does •  remove biological terms

Biological Strategy “Owl Wing Feathers Enable Near-silent Flight Owls are capable of flying just inches from their prey without being detected. The quietness of their flight is owed to their specialized wing feathers. When air rushes over an ordinary wing, it typically creates a “gushing” noise as large areas of air turbulence build up. But the owl has a few ways to alter this turbulence and reduce its noise. First, the leading edge of the owl’s wing has feathers covered in small structures (hooks and bows) that break up the flowing air into smaller, micro-turbulences... (excerpt from AskNature) Owl: Luc Viatour CC-BY Feather: Kersti Nebelsiek, CC-BY-SA


Design Strategy Comb-like structures reduce noise when located on leading edge of an airfoil. An airfoil reduces noise when passing through air by altering air turbulence. It does this by first breaking up air flowing over the leading edge of the airfoil into small micro-turbulences, which roll over the surface of the airfoil toward its trailing edge. The trailing edge is flexible, further breaking up the flowing air and reducing noise.


EMULATE strategies


Emulate:!To apply essential patterns or principles

within [a strategy], rather than directly copy it.


EVALUATE fitness


Does the design ‘fit’ the challenge?! - Does it meet the functional need(s)?

-  Will it function within context/constraints? -  Is it compatible with Earth’s living systems?


ITERATE


Feels kind of like this…

CC-BY-ND Damien Newman


Questions?


RESOURCES FOR LEARNING MORE

Toolbox.Biomimicry.org AskNature.org


Designing a Food System Revolution November 10, 7pm GMT & November 17, 2pm GMT Panel conversations with teams in the inaugural Biomimicry Design Challenge Accelerator

Using AskNature to Guide Sustainable Solutions November 19, 5pm GMT

UPCOMING EVENTS Join us at the Disruptive Innovation Festival this month. Register at thinkdif.co


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